Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO) - government response

The Queensland Government has delivered on its election commitments to investigate the impacts of the use of fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) workforces in Queensland.

Two processes were undertaken to ensure a comprehensive assessment of the issues and to provide the government with recommendations on future policy options.

Parliament's Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources Committee tabled their report into FIFO and other long distance commuting work practices in regional Queensland on 9 October 2015. The Queensland Government provided its response to the parliamentary inquiry ( 75 KB) on 17 March 2016.

A four-member panel was also appointed to undertake a review of fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) mines where the operation is located near a resource town or regional community. This report was publically released on 1 October 2015 and the Queensland Government's response to the review ( 511 KB) is now available.

The government's response detailed a range of measures to be adopted, including:

improved social impact assessments by mining companies

workforce plans that maximise the opportunity for local workers to get jobs

workers to live in local existing housing, or in purpose-built villages, where there is community support

accommodation that provides a safe, clean and healthy environment for workers.

Parliamentary Inquiry into FIFO and other long distance commuting work practices in regional Queensland

On 27 March 2015 the Queensland Government commissioned a parliamentary inquiry into FIFO and other long distance commuting work practices in regional Queensland, including mental health impacts.

A public submissions process was undertaken and closed on 25 May 2015. A total of 235 submissions were received. Public hearings also took place in Brisbane and throughout regional Queensland. The final report from the parliamentary inquiry ( 2.6 MB) was released on Friday 9 October 2015.

FIFO Review

In May 2015 the government appointed a panel of four resource community and sector leaders to undertake the FIFO review and the panel has delivered its final report and recommendations to the Minister for State Development. The FIFO Review Report ( 2.7 MB) was publicly released on 1 October 2015.

In line with the review's terms of reference targeted stakeholder consultation was undertaken by the panel. The panel visited 13 locations right across Queensland and met with more than 80 stakeholders including local governments, unions, mining services industries and peak industry bodies.

The panel examined the economic impact of FIFO work practices in regional resource communities and also the communities where the FIFO workers live.

Further information

For further information about the Parliamentary Inquiry, including the submissions received, please visit their website.

Related initiatives

The Queensland Government Statistician's Office has published reports on resource regions non-resident population projections 2015 to 2021. Reports for the Bowen and Galilee Basins, the Surat Basin and the Gladstone region provide annual projections of workers in these resource areas.

Contact

Email the FIFO Project Team at the Department of State Development at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.